School plans microchip bracelets

Kids at Swannanoa School are being measured for microchip bracelets which will be scanned for good behaviour and the like.
Parent of two, Emma Goodin, is outraged.

A North Canterbury school's plan to fit students with microchip bracelets to track their behaviour has prompted concern among parents.

Swannanoa School wants to use silicon bracelets as part of a scheme to reward good behaviour, minutes from a Parent Teacher Association meeting show.

Teachers would use portable scanners to add points to a student's online good behaviour chart with a reward when a certain amount of points was accumulated.

The school says the scheme would cost $7000 to set up. The proposal has been opposed by some parents.

The Ministry of Education said it did not recommend the bracelets and would expect broad parent support before it was adopted by the school.

Mother of two Emma Goodin said she did not want her children "treated like grocery items or criminals". She said parents had not been consulted, but her son said he had his wrist measured at school on Monday.

"I don't like the idea of my children being scanned," Goodin said.

Mother Liz Rutherford said she heard about the scheme "on the rumour mill" and feared it was a slippery slope. "If it's just for good behaviour, why would you invest that much money in it?"

Rutherford said she would remove her children from the school if the bracelet scheme went ahead.

Acting principal Kate McClelland said no decisions had been made about the bracelets. "Everyone's viewpoints will be considered."